Industry perspectives on carbon-offset programs in Canada and the United States

Carbon offsetting is often put forward as a possible mitigation strategy for climate change. This study examines carbon-offset businesses in Canada and the United States to better understand their standards, project types, and project locations and to determine their perspectives regarding the chall...

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Main Authors: Rachel Dodds, Ilan Kelman, Natalie Thiesen, Alison McDougall, Joshua Garcia, Tim Bessada
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2012-08-01
Series:Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy
Subjects:
Online Access:http://sspp.proquest.com/archives/vol8iss2/1101-001.dodds.html
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author Rachel Dodds
Ilan Kelman
Natalie Thiesen
Alison McDougall
Joshua Garcia
Tim Bessada
author_facet Rachel Dodds
Ilan Kelman
Natalie Thiesen
Alison McDougall
Joshua Garcia
Tim Bessada
author_sort Rachel Dodds
collection DOAJ
description Carbon offsetting is often put forward as a possible mitigation strategy for climate change. This study examines carbon-offset businesses in Canada and the United States to better understand their standards, project types, and project locations and to determine their perspectives regarding the challenges of the carbon-offset industry. Twenty companies (a 40% response rate) agreed to a structured interview, although many were reluctant to share some information. Several salient themes emerged and are discussed in more detail: involvement of the hospitality and tourism industry, financial commitment, confusion in the marketplace, transparency, and needs for education. Implementation of three recommendations—covering standardization, education, and further engagement among the industry, its customers, and researchers—could reduce confusion and increase the transparency of carbon offsetting. Yet these changes might not help business since customers might decide that purchasing carbon offsets does little to address climate change.
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spelling doaj.art-32ef21f3bc5a49a283fce1bf3e8995f72022-12-21T19:11:58ZengTaylor & Francis GroupSustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy1548-77332012-08-01823141Industry perspectives on carbon-offset programs in Canada and the United StatesRachel DoddsIlan KelmanNatalie ThiesenAlison McDougallJoshua GarciaTim BessadaCarbon offsetting is often put forward as a possible mitigation strategy for climate change. This study examines carbon-offset businesses in Canada and the United States to better understand their standards, project types, and project locations and to determine their perspectives regarding the challenges of the carbon-offset industry. Twenty companies (a 40% response rate) agreed to a structured interview, although many were reluctant to share some information. Several salient themes emerged and are discussed in more detail: involvement of the hospitality and tourism industry, financial commitment, confusion in the marketplace, transparency, and needs for education. Implementation of three recommendations—covering standardization, education, and further engagement among the industry, its customers, and researchers—could reduce confusion and increase the transparency of carbon offsetting. Yet these changes might not help business since customers might decide that purchasing carbon offsets does little to address climate change.http://sspp.proquest.com/archives/vol8iss2/1101-001.dodds.htmlclimatic changemitigationcompaniesmarket economygreenhouse gassesquestionnaires
spellingShingle Rachel Dodds
Ilan Kelman
Natalie Thiesen
Alison McDougall
Joshua Garcia
Tim Bessada
Industry perspectives on carbon-offset programs in Canada and the United States
Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy
climatic change
mitigation
companies
market economy
greenhouse gasses
questionnaires
title Industry perspectives on carbon-offset programs in Canada and the United States
title_full Industry perspectives on carbon-offset programs in Canada and the United States
title_fullStr Industry perspectives on carbon-offset programs in Canada and the United States
title_full_unstemmed Industry perspectives on carbon-offset programs in Canada and the United States
title_short Industry perspectives on carbon-offset programs in Canada and the United States
title_sort industry perspectives on carbon offset programs in canada and the united states
topic climatic change
mitigation
companies
market economy
greenhouse gasses
questionnaires
url http://sspp.proquest.com/archives/vol8iss2/1101-001.dodds.html
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AT alisonmcdougall industryperspectivesoncarbonoffsetprogramsincanadaandtheunitedstates
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